Rotary annunciator



F. W. WOOD.

ROTARY ANNUNCIATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 1919.

1,420,801, Patented June 27, 1922 E] wvamtoz QMK LM M Farm FRANK w-WOOD, OF MONT-CLAIR, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T CHARLES CORY & SON,

mcoaroaarnn, "or NEW YORK, N,

' no'rAaY ANNUNdIATOR.

Application filed October 24, 1919.

To all whom it may concern.-

and useful Improvements in Rotary An-v nunciators, of ich theyfollowingis a specification.

' My invention relates to annunciators and particularly to electricallyoperated indicating means therefor.

.The usual annunciator includes a casing having awindow and an indicatorreciproeating between active position in reglster with the window andinactive position, ordinarily above the window, in which a signal" onthe indicator is not visible through the window." Electrical means iscustomarily "employed to drop the indicator from inactive to activeposition; but as the return of the indicator requires the direct liftingthereof, mechanical means is ordinarily provided for the return shift,as electrical means sufficiently powerful for this purpose wouldordinarily be so bulky as to increase the size of the annunciator to asubstantial extent.

Indicators for annunciators are furthermore mounted asymmetrically upona pivot; and consequently jars, shocks, continued vibration, orsubstantial changes in the position of the annunciator tends to shiftthe indicator, rendering its operation uncertain and its signalunreliable under such conditions.

The object of my invention is to rovide an indicator that issymmetrically and evenly balanced about its pivot and shiftable ineither direction between operative and inoperative positions with equalfacility, and without overcoming the effect of gravity.

I also provide a construction which is adaptedto be located at any anglewhatever, and which will operate with equal facility regardless of itsposition. Consequently, it is particularly adapted for use where apermanent horizontal mounting-is not available or convenient, and inlocations where the relation of the annunciator to the horizontal issubject to considerable changes from time to time, as on shipboard, inrailroad trains, airships, and the like.

I have also disclosed a construction which, due to its symmetricalarrangement, does not Specification of- Itetters ljflmt.

Y, A; CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

Patented June 27, 1922 mi No. 382,985.

tend to shift between operative and inoperative position under vibrationor blows. It will be noted that the combination of immunity fromderangement caused by tilting and by vibration renders this annunciatorships where the combined rollin of the ship and the detonation of gunsren er the ordinary annunciator uncertain in its operation.

I have, furthermore, provided a type of annunciator whioh'is shiftablewith great rapldity, and which if desired can be used to dis la either.of two difi'erent signals throug t e usual window at the will of theoperator, thus enlarging its field of useful.- ness.

My annunciator provides signals of the maximum s1ze for the space takenup thereby. It is also particularly adapted for use where a series ofsignals in vertical alinement is desired, as the usual annunciator drophaving a vertical reciprocating indicator must be considerably spacedfrom the adjoining drops above and below it.

Furthermore, I have provided a very simple, compact andcheapconstruction adapted to withstand constant and arduous service and notliable to get out of order, and one in which the magnets are protectedfrom accident.

Other objects and advantages of m construction W111 be apparent from theflillowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an annunciatorelement in operative position, frag 'ments of a conventional base andcasing be; -1n%1nd1cated,

ig. 2 is a top plan view, part of me drum being broken away,

Fig. '3 is a sectional Fig.2, and j Fig. 4 is a bottom elevation of theelement detached from its mounting.

In the preferred form, my-invention includes a drum 10 having a flat top11 and an apron 12, the latter preferabl vided with stiffening means,such about the lower edge thereof. Drum 10 is mounted to enclose androtate about a pluview on line a of rality of magnets 14 mounted on baseplate 15, and preferably provided with a spacer plate 16 engaging theouter ends of magnets 14 to retain them in proper position. Ana desiredpivotal mounting for drum 10 may being pro- 1 as bead 13 66 mostespecially adaptable to use on battlebe provided, such as shaft 17journaled in if desired, 'to strengthen the connection.

Either two or four magnets may be employed; but in the preferred form Ihave disclosed four magnets symmetrically arranged about shaft 17.Armature 18 is so constructed that the portions thereoi on oppositesides of shaft 17 counterbalance each other, and preferably issymmetrlcal with respect to said shaft. I

One end of said armature is preferably so formed that when thecentralportion thereof is in register with a magnet which has.

been energized, an extension, such as wing 20, will lie adjacent anon-energized magnet,

so as to reduce the reluctance of the magnetic circuit when the latteris energized, and consequently increase the speed of operation. Whenfour magnets are used, as illustrated, it will be apparent thatdiametrically located pairs of magnets are simultaneously energized,each pair being preferably connected in series with a separate switch,such as a push button. It will be evident, however, that theconstruction will be equally operative with asingle pair of magnetsselectively operated to shift the armature and the drum in the properdirection.

As it is desirable to energize the magnets for only a short period oftime, means may be provided for arresting and holding the drum in eitherof its two positions. Various devices for this purpose may be employed,preferably including an element mounted on the rotating part of the unitengaging suitable elements mounted on the fixed part or supporttherefor. A great variety of check elements may obviously be utilized,and the specific form disclosed is merely illustrative. I have shown acam 'stop plate 21 mountedon the end of shaft 17 opposite to thearmature, which end is preferably reduced in size to provide a shoulderresting on base plate 15, and this shoulder together with cam plate 21prevent shaft 17 from sliding to any great extent in either direction,permitting the rotation of the drum regardless of the position of theunit; though when it is desired to position the unit with the armatureend of the shaft lower than the base plate end, a suitable bearing atsaid base plate end should be provided. In the preferred form, cam

plate 21 is provided with two intersecting stop faces 22, a stop spring23, which may be mounted on base plate 15, having a portion pressingagainst said stop member 21 and adapted to engage either face 22 to holdthe drum positively and accurately in either to asymmetrically positionthe opposite wings 20 located on each side of the shaft 17 with respectto the magnet poles so as to determine the direction in which thearmature and drum will swing when said magnets adjacent to the wings areboth simultaneously energized. A; convenient way of-accomplishing thisconsistsin arranging the magnets as shown inthe drawings so that theyare positioned in two pairs of diametrically opposite magnets'with amagnet of'each pair located nearer toonemagnet of the second pair thanto the othermagnet of the said second pair. When an armature havingsymmetrically arranged wings is used, as shown in the drawings, itbecomes necessary to provide stop faces 22 inclined to each other at 'anangle slightly greater than 90 so as'to only permit shifting of thearmature for an angle less than 90, since the adjacent magnetscooperating with a pair of wings 20 on one side of shaft 17 embraces anangle which is less than 90. It will be apparent, however, that properproportioning of wings 20 will accomplish the same result.

Any desired form of mounting for the indicator unit may be provided. Ihave disclosed a conventional type including a bracket 24 on which baseplate 15 is mounted, the bracket being attached to a rear wall 25. i

I have also shown a conventional front casing 26 having a window 27adjacent to drum 10. It will be apparent'that a signal may be carried bythe face of drum 10 and shifted into or out of view of window 27 bysuitable energizing of selected magnets 14; or if desired two adjacentsignals may be carried by said drum, either of which may be shifted intoView in register with window 27.

It will be apparent that I have provided a construction in which thesymmetrical arrangement of the drum about the shaft renders shocks andvibration ineffective to shift tended to-be used with said shaft invertical position. Moreover, when a plurality of units is mounted invertical alinement, as the 1,42o,eo1

While I have described only two positions of the drum in the preferredform, it will be I apparent that obvious variations in the number ofmagnets, the method of energizing them, and the arrangement of thearmature may be-made to provide more than two positions, and I considersuch variations to be within the scope of-my invention.

While I have describeda preferred form of my invention and certainmodifications thereof, my invention is not limited thereto,

but includes such changes in construction as come within the scope of myinvention as set forth in this specification.

I claim:

1. In a signalling apparatus,-a plurality of magnets having their axesparallel, the magnets bein provided with pole pieces the faces of whicie in a plane normal to such axes, anarmature lying and movablein aplane parallel to said first mentioned plane; said armature beingrotatableabout an axis parallelin the axes of the magnets and beingprovided with wing means overlying and cooperating with the magnet polepieces, and a signal element comprising a drum having an open bottom,the top of the drum carrying the armature and the cylindrical walls ofthe drum encircling and housing the mag nets, the armature and the drumbeing movable by selective energization of the magnets.

2. In a si nalling apparatus, a plurality of magnets aving their axesparallel, the magnets bein provided with pole pieces the faces of whichlie in a plane normal to such axes, an armature lying and movable in aplane parallel to said first mentioned plane; said armature beingoscillatable about an axis paralleling the axes of the magnets and beingprovided with .oppositely disposed wing means overlying andcooperatingwith the magnet pole pieces, and a signal element comprising a drumhaving an open bottom, the top of the drum carrying the armature and thecylindrical walls of the drum encircling and housing the magnets, thearmature and the drum being movable by selective ener ization of themagnets.

3. In a signaling apparatus, a plurality of magnets having their axesparallel, the magnets being provided with pole pieces the faces of whichlie in a plane normal to such axes, an armature lying and movable inaplane parallel to said first mentioned plane; said armature beingrotatable about an axis parallelin the axes of the magnets and be- 1ngprovi ed with wing means overlying and cooperating with the magnet polepieces, a signal element comprising a drum having an open bottom, thetop of the drum carrying the armature and the cylindrical walls of thedrum encircling and housing the magnets,

\ the armature and the drum being movable by selective energization ofthe magnets, and means for retainin the-drum an armature in the selectedpos1tions when the magnets are deenergized.

4. In a slgnalling apparatus, an armature mounted for oscillation, twopairs of magnets having their pole pieces arranged around the axis ofoscillation of the armature, the

faces of the pole pieces lying in a plane nor:

mal to such axes, the armature lying and movable in a plane parallel tosaid first mentioned plane and being provided with opposite] disposedwing members on the opposite si es of the axis thereof, the win membersoverlying and cooperating wlth the magnet pole pieces and a signalelement comprlsing a rum having an open bottom, the top of the drumcarrying the armature and the cylindrical walls of the drum encirclingand housing the magnets, the armature and the drum being movable byselective ener ization of the magnets.

5. a signalling apparatus, an armature mounted for oscillation, twopairs of magnets havin their pole pieces arranged around the axis 0oscillation of the armature, the faces of the pole pieces lying in aplane normal to such axes, the armature l in and movable in a planeparallel to said rst mentioned plane and being provided with oppositelydisposed wing members on the opposite sides of the axis thereof, thewing members overlying and cooperating with the magnet pole pieces, anda signal element comprising a drum having an open bottom, the top of thedrum carrying the armature and the cylindrical walls of the drumencirclin and housing the magnets the armature an the drum being movableby selective energization of the magnets, the oppositely disposed wingmembers on both sides of the axis asymmetrically overlying diametricallyopposed magnet poles whereby upon magnet energization the direction ofoscillation of the armature may be predetermined.

6. In a signallin apparatus, an armature mounted for osci ation into twopredetermined positions, two pairsof magnets having them poles arrangedaround the axis 'of oscillation of the armature, the magnets beingadapted to be energized in pairs of diametrically opposed magnets, thearmature being provided with oppositely disposed wing members on theopposite sides of the axis thereof, the oppositely disposed wing memberson both sides of the axis asymmetrically overlying the poles of a pairof diametrically opposed magnets whereby upon magnet energization thedirection of osclllation of the armature into either of the twopredetermined positions may be controlled.

7. In a signaling apparatus, an armature mounted for oscillation, twopairs of magof the armature in sufiiciently imity to the path ofmovement of the armature to influence the latter when energized, themagnets being adapted to be energized in 5 pairs-0f diametrlcallopposite magnets and each magnet of eac pair having its pole locatednearer to the pole of one magnet of the other pair than to the pole ofthe other magnet of the. latter pair, the said armature 10 includingsymmetrical portions extending on diametrically opposite sides of itsaxis and close proxmaaeor Wings projecting oppositely from each of thesaid portions in the path of movement of the same, and a signal elementconnected with the armature and adapted to be shifted 15 into twopredetermined positions upon movement of the armature.

Si ed at New York city in the county of N. and State of N. Y. this 22ndday of Oct, A. D. 1919. a

FRANK W. WOOD.

